News The Image Of Tharja In A Swimsuit Nintendo Of America Didn't Want You To See
Avert thine eyes, children
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D's Beastly Block Size Revealed
Clear your fridge of any loose bananas
Review Super Mario World (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Everybody wants to rule the World
News Mario Kart, Wii Sports And Animal Crossing Named In Violent Games Rundown
UK newspaper investigates guns and violence in best-selling games
News Shigesato Itoi Says Mother 4 Would Be "Impossible"
Might as well be blunt about it
News - 2013, Week 18
Monday6th May 2013
News Capcom Bringing More SNES Goodness To The Wii U Virtual Console
More support incoming
Capcom was one of Nintendo's most valuable supporters in the days of the NES and SNES, and the company seems keen to relive those glory days now that the Wii U Virtual Console has launched. We already know that Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts and Street Fighter II are inbound, but over on Capcom's official forum, fans are chattering...
Sunday5th May 2013
News There's Still Plenty Of Interest In Older Pokémon Games
People are still buying the previous titles
This year Nintendo announced it would be bringing a brand new Pokémon title to the 3DS in the form of Pokémon X & Y. This new iteration breaks the mould set by previous games and incorporates full 3D environments instead of the conventional top-down view we're all used to. Of course, Pokémon Black...
Video The Latest Resident Evil Revelations Developer Diary Focuses on Virus Infestations
Inoue-san is making us nervous
Capcom's series of developer diary videos continue to arrive and remind us that, later this month, the glossy HD re-release of 3DS title Resident Evil Revelations will land on Wii U and other platforms. While one of the best technical demonstrations of what the 3DS can accomplish, it'll be interesting to see how the...
Talking Point Why Nintendo Life is a Part of the Animal Crossing: New Leaf Mayor Program
Jon gets recruited as an early Mayor, sadness ensues
If you follow us on twitter you may have noticed that our Editor-At-Large, Jon Wahlgren, has in his enviable, clammy hands an English-language digital copy of Nintendo’s newest quaint life sim, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. In fact, a few dozen people have received early copies — not only the...
Feature Nintendo Life's Staff Favourites - Miiverse Illustrations
Game art for all to enjoy
Earlier this week we directed your attention to the "Printing Miiverse" art show, which is a collection of 13,255 drawings from 172 artists, showing just how many attractive illustrations have graced the Wii U's social network. Miiverse has proven to be an early success on Nintendo's system with plenty of active...
News Debauchery and Seduction to Play Key Roles in Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag
Kenway wants to "get rich and prove himself a ‘man of quality'"
While the pirates in the Caribbean theme — which reminds us of something — of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag may have caused some mirth and casual mockery when the game was unveiled earlier this year, there's still little doubt that the title will earn yet another mature age...
News Go Bananas For These Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Pre-Order Bonuses
A bag and a fancy tie
This month sees the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D for the 3DS, and UK retailer GAME has teamed up with Nintendo to offer exclusive gifts for those who pre-order the game. Take to the supermarket in style with a Banana Shopper bag featuring the ape himself, as well as an ap-peal-ing Banana keyring to accompany your...
News Yuke's Has A Pacific Rim Game In Development
Expect plenty of big robots
Pacific Rim is one of this year's major cinema blockbusters and it has been revealed that there will be a video game tie-in for it, which will no doubt be released at around the same time. It's to be developed and published by Yuke's, the studio behind the annual WWE licensed releases. The upcoming WWE title is still...
Video The Super Piano Brothers Recreate Skyward Sword's Main Theme
Gorgeous and epic
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was one of the last great Wii titles, earning a rare 10/10 in our review. Like any Zelda title there are some that don't like its changes, or the move to full-on motion controls, bit we'd wager that most at least like it a lot. One feature of the title that we feel stands up well for the vast...
News Australia rejoice! Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition is Heading Down Under Soon
WayForward announces an update is on the way
Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition has been available in the North American and European Wii U eShop since the new system's release but it is yet to show up in the Australian store. We know the game was rated by the Australian Classification Board in February but we've not heard anything since...
Saturday4th May 2013
Review Super Mario World (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Everybody wants to rule the World
Right from the six-note melody that opens the first stage, you can tell there's something special about Super Mario World. This is the Super Nintendo launch title that set the bar impossibly high for day-one releases, created the magic that games such as Super Mario 64, Sonic Adventure, and Luigi's Mansion have...
Review Mega Man (Wii U eShop / NES)
Fight, Mega Man, for everlasting re-release!
By now, if you want to play Mega Man you probably already have it. It's been previously released for the Wii and 3DS Virtual Consoles, after all. But if you've somehow managed to let the game pass you by — or just aren't sure if it's worth upgrading your old Virtual Console version — we're happy to...
News Frontier Would "Very Much Like" To Make Another LostWinds Game
Developer says mobile and console markets are becoming "blurred"
Frontier currently has a couple of games in development. First up there's Elite: Dangerous, which is coming to PC and Mac after amassing over $1.5 million in a Kickstarter campaign, and then there's Coaster Crazy Deluxe, which will soon be available on Wii U via the eShop. Of course,...
Video Mega Man Unlimited - The Fan Game That Looks as Good as the Real Thing
Mega in many ways
At the time of writing, it looks unlikely that Capcom will be reeling out a new Mega Man game to celebrate the series' 25th Anniversary, with free PC title Street Fighter X Mega Man and various collectibles being the offerings dished out by the publisher. Yet while the officially sanctioned fan game released last year — as it...
Feature Celebrating Ten Years of The Wind Waker
A decade under the ocean
This week marked the 10th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’s European release, a title that’s equally one of the most beloved and controversial titles in the entire Zelda franchise. Launched on the GameCube between 2002 and 2003 worldwide, The Wind Waker had a troubled launch, due largely to a backlash...
News Capcom Has No Plans To Release Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars On The eShop
Licensing issues still the major stumbling block
As we're already aware, you can download Wii U retail games directly from the eShop but there are currently no Wii games available and it appears Nintendo does not have any plans to release any in the foreseeable future. Capcom's senior vice president Christian Svensson was recently asked on the...
Developer Interview Rex Rocket Creator On Bringing Pixel-Heavy Action To The 3DS And Wii U
"3DS and the Wii U are two of the best platforms we could hope to get on"
We recently reported on the Kickstarter campaign for Rex Rocket and the chances of the game making its way to the 3DS and Wii U eShops. Creator Rob Maher got in touch with us to talk a little more about the project, as well as future ideas for Nintendo systems. Nintendo Life:...
News First 4 Figures Shows Off Its Mighty Ganondorf Army
So many Ganondorfs, so little money
First 4 Figures is known for its fantastic selection of figurines, which include various Nintendo characters with great attention to detail. The site has seen wonderful success with figures such as Link on Epona, Dark Link, Zero Suit Samus and the chief Goron, Darunia. There are plenty more to choose from, just...
News EA Not Kicking Out Any Details On A FIFA 14 Release For Wii U
Let's hope the game doesn't get a red card
Last month, we were given fresh details on Electronic Art's next installment in the FIFA franchise, FIFA 14; however, a Wii U version wasn't mentioned in the initial line-up. In the press release, EA did say that additional platforms would be announced in the coming months. When questioned by
News Level-5 Registers Three New Trademarks
Could they be Guild 03 related?
Level-5's Guild 02 titles are already out in Japan and are on their way to the West. The Starship Damrey will be released first - 16th May in North America - and will be followed by Bugs vs. Tanks! and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale. There's been no official news on any development of a Guild 03 series...
News The Starship Damrey Landing In The North American 3DS eShop On 16th May
The first of three Guild02 titles will be available soon
Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen announced during last month's bursting Nintendo Direct that all three of Level-5's Guild02 titles would be coming to the 3DS eShop over the next few months. Well, we didn't have to wait too long as Nintendo has listed the first of the three titles on its...
News Publisher Dream Set For A DSiWare Release Next Week In North America
Europe's also getting Color Commando
Last year, CIRCLE Entertainment brought Bookstore Dream to DSiWare, a management sim which saw you run your own bookstore. Next week North Americans will be able to download the next title in the series: Publisher Dream. CIRCLE Entertainment posted the following tweet confirming the game will be available on 9th...
Friday3rd May 2013
News The Image Of Tharja In A Swimsuit Nintendo Of America Didn't Want You To See
Avert thine eyes, children
We've already seen that the European version of Fire Emblem: Awakening has been subjected to alterations to remove "adult" content, but now it's the turn of the North American version of the game. The recently-released DLC packs — Harvest Scramble, Summer Scramble and Hot Spring Scramble — were created as the result...
News The Upcoming Okami Announcement Isn't For a Sequel
Likely for Japan only
Word of an upcoming announcement posted recently to the Japanese Okami Twitter account may have sparked wider buzz than anticipated. A new message has been posted clarifying that whatever the announcement entails, it won't be regarding a sequel. Furthermore, Capcom USA Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President Christian...
Talking Point Censoring Boingy Bits, Bums and Gore
Won't somebody think of the children?
The past week has brought us a couple of stories around the localisation of Fire Emblem: Awakening that, depending on your viewpoint, may be considered either funny, quirky or a disheartening example of censorship. We had the Nintendo of Europe translation of one conversation remove a rather juvenile reference...
News Free-To-Play Tank! Tank! Tank! Gives You Club Nintendo Coins and Stars
Take advantage while you can
Fancy picking up 60 free play coins - or 50 stars if you're in Europe - to purchase that much wanted item on Club Nintendo? Well now's your chance. Namco Bandai released a free version of Tank! Tank! Tank! on the Wii U eShop yesterday in North America — it's been available in Europe for a short while — and despite...
Feature Robust DLC Ensures That Fire Emblem: Awakening Just Keeps On Giving
We go hands-on with the map packs released in Europe so far
Fire Emblem: Awakening is a truly amazing 3DS title, packing hours of compelling tactical action into one of the most entertaining games we've played all year. However, thanks to a growing selection of downloadable maps, the battle doesn't have to end when the credits roll. Before moving...
Rumour Nintendo Planning a 3D Mario Release on Wii U Before October
Operation Wii U Revival, perhaps?
As Nintendo has made clear both in its Wii U Direct earlier in the year and in recent notes to investors, the second half of 2013 will see a major, sustained effort to kick-start a Wii U resurgence. We have a number of known releases that are set to grace the system in the Fall period, such as Pikmin 3 and The...
Review Gummy Bears Magical Medallion (3DS eShop)
Bearly playable
The product description for Gummy Bears Magical Medallion promises a "classic adventure platformer with a Gummy Bears twist". That twist, apparently, is that the game is awful. The excusably nonsensical plot revolves around the evil King Sour Berry stealing the Magical Medallion from...well, nevermind where he stole it from, or who...
Review Donkey Kong Jr. (Wii U eShop / NES)
Son of a Kong
We recently reported that a Mr. Mike Kasper set the new world record with his high score on an original Donkey Kong Jr. arcade cabinet. Now, all thanks to the recent official Wii U Virtual Console going live, Wii U owners can save their quarters and work on their Donkey Kong Jr. high scores right from the comfort of their own homes in...
News Check Out These Spectacular NES Cartridge Rings
There are plenty to choose from
There's a feeling you get with a cartridge that you just can't find with a boring compact disc. They may be a thing of the past but there are many people out there who still appreciate their charm. One person who clearly has a love for NES cartridges in particular is Etsy artist Jess Firsoff, who is making and...
News Rex Rocket Developer Keen To Bring Zelda-Style Blossom Tales To Nintendo Systems
Inspired by Zelda: A Link to the Past
Rex Rocket developer Rob Maher has exclusively revealed to us that his team plans to bring Zelda-style adventure Blossom Tales to either the 3DS or Wii U. Speaking in an interview which is due to go live on Nintendo Life tomorrow, Maher had this to say: Depending on the success of Rex Rocket, we have big...
News Shadow of the Eternals Expected To Spook Its Way Onto Wii U Next Year
Crowdfunding begins on 6th May
The "spiritual successor" to Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem will embark on a crowdfunding campaign on the 6th May, this coming Monday. Titled Shadow of the Eternals, the upcoming cult classic sequel is said to be in development by Precursor Games. The crowdfunding won't be done on Kickstarter as it's a Canadian...
News The Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Getting a 20th Anniversary Screening In LA
Possibly more than it deserves?
Twenty years ago, Mario and Luigi starred in a pretty dismal Hollywood movie which almost ruined the career of Harold Ramis and still annoys star Bob Hoskins even today. However, there are still plenty of people who grew up loving the film — in the same way you come to love a tatty old teddy from your childhood, we...
News Multiplayer Sandbox Title, Rawbots, Coming to Wii U if Kickstarter Goal is Met
Robots designed and programmed by you
We've seen a number of indie developers crowdfunding for potential games to appear on the Wii U eShop since the console's release in November. We've recently seen Super Ubi Land and Shovel Knight receive the appropriate amount of funding for their respective projects, and another game in line looking for support...
News F-Zero Go Fast! Celebrates The Music Of Nintendo's Futuristic Racing Series
Shiryu's latest 4 EP series is racing to your ears this month
We're massive fans of Shiryu's music here at Nintendo Life, and his latest project has us very excited indeed, as it focuses on one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises. F-Zero Go Fast is a 4 EP series which covers the entire history of the F-Zero lineage, from the SNES days right up to...
News Fan-Made Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker Remix Album Coming Soon
"On the Breath of the Wind" releasing later this year
It's amazing to think that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is ten years old — here at Nintendo Life Towers we still vividly recall seeing those lush cel-shaded visuals for the first time and being totally enraptured by the gameplay. To mark the occasion, a fan album is being produced which...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Twelve
It's what we do
The weekend is upon us, dear readers, and rather than relax our weary minds with some rest we plan to exercise our thumbs and senses with some gaming shenanigans. And why not? A sharp mind is always important, whether it's planning strategies for turn-based battles or assessing an environment before charging in with guns blazing,...
Thursday2nd May 2013
Nintendo Download 2nd May 2013 (North America)
Retro goodies, discounts galore, rabbits, tanks and much more
It's that time again, North America, for more Nintendo Download goodies to grace your systems, with all but the Wii being treated to something new this week. There's a lot to get through, so let's not waste too much effort on this pre-amble. Wii U eShop: Kung Fu Rabbit (Neko...
News Madden NFL Is Skipping Nintendo Systems For The First Time Since 1991
"We have a strong partnership with Nintendo" claims EA
Electronic Arts has revealed that Madden NFL 25 will not be making an appearance on the Wii U this year. The snub means that the series is skipping Nintendo systems entirely for the first time since 1991 — the year that saw the original John Madden Football arrive on the Super Nintendo. EA...
News Super Retro Trio Plays SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA Games
The RetroN5 has a challenger
It would seem that 2013 is going to be a big year for new gaming hardware — not only will we see the PlayStation 4 and Next Xbox, but we've got two new retro systems to look forward to as well. Hyperkin's RetroN 5 will be joined by the Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio, which plays SNES, Genesis / Mega Drive, NES and (with an...
News Nintendo "Didn't Know What To Do" With The Wii Vitality Sensor
Neuro-technology professor gives his take on the vapourware heart monitor
The Wii Vitality Sensor was announced in 2009 but has never seen the light of day — and Professor Roger Quy thinks he knows why. Speaking at the recent NeuroGaming Conference in San Francisco, Quy passed his own opinions on why the strange peripheral never made its way to...
News Capcom Announces Two More Wii U Virtual Console Titles In May
"We have more titles in the pipeline"
As we already know, Mega Man is now available to download on the North American Wii U Virtual Console and Capcom has now announced on its blog that a couple more classic titles will also be making an entrance onto the service in the coming weeks. On 16th May Super Ghouls’n Ghosts will be available for...
News Nyan Cat, Keyboard Cat Meme Creators Suing Over Appearance in Scribblenauts
[Insert rageface of choice here.]
When your fame comes from getting plastered in every corner of the Internet possible, a nod in a videogame may seem a positive thing. The originators of Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat (known in everyday life as Fatso) do not appear to agree, having hit developer 5th Cell and publisher Warner Bros. with lawsuits arguing...
Video The Many Control Schemes of Call Of Duty: Black Ops II
Assuming direct control
Before we get started, some introductions are in order. I'm Rory, and I'm relatively new here. You may have heard my voice on some recent videos, and for that I can only apologise. I've been tasked by the Nintendo Life bosses with creating original video content for the site, and so far, it's been kind of a mixed bag; on the...
News Eiji Aonuma: Zelda 3DS Will Feature a Light and Dark World
Also explains the paper Link feature
In a recent interview with CNET, The Legend of Zelda series producer, Eiji Aonuma, shed some light on the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the 3DS. The original game for the SNES featured two worlds, Light and Dark, in which Link had to alternate between both. According to...
News Nintendo Accused Of Infringing Trademark With Wii U WaraWara Plaza
Restaurant owner Monteroza is less than happy
Restaurant chain owner Monteroza has filed a claim against Nintendo over the use of its "WaraWara Plaza" trademark. Monteroza — which operates 300 restaurants in the far east and runs a chain of Japanese-style public houses under the brand Wara-wara — filed a request with the Japanese Patent Office...
News This "Printing Miiverse" Art Show Gives a Glimpse of the Network's Potential
Non-profit gallery will be streamed online
Nintendo seems to be rather proud of Miiverse, and rightly so, recently launching a browser-based beta version of the social network — miiverse.nintendo.net — and making it clear that the platform would play a major role in advertising and building awareness of the Wii U. Since its launch plenty of...
News UK Retailer Asda Slashes Basic Wii U Bundle Price To £149
Premium bundle now £199
UK supermarket Asda has reduced the prices of its Wii U bundles for the second time this year. The Basic Wii U pack now costs £149 and the Premium
News Code Of Princess Reduced To $29.99 On North American 3DS eShop
25 percent reduction for 2D fighter
The 3DS eShop is seeing some impressive discounts of late, with Nintendo hacking down the cost of several of its own titles on the download store. Those titles have now been joined by Code of Princess, which is now being sold for $29.99. The original price was $39.99. "This is the rare kind of game that...
Video Rayman Legends has the Eye of the Tiger, Mariachi Style
We pity the fools who don't check it out
Ubisoft seems to be getting ready to build the excitement for Rayman Legends, which will finally grace the Wii U in late August/early September. In the meantime Wii U owners can indulge in the free Challenge App, which is another way to build a bit of personal hype for the long-awaited platformer. One new...
News Chiptune Album World 1-2 Now Available To Download
Music to our ears
Koopa Soundworks has released its digital album World 1-2 today featuring some of the best retro-style chiptune music you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. The album is a collaboration that includes some of the biggest names from major gaming franchises and is being distributed via GameChops. One of the most recognisable names...
News Crash City Mayhem Hits the 3DS eShop in Europe on 9th May
The localisation experts at Ghostlight strike again
In mid-April we reported on a rumour that Majesco is lining up an imminent North American 3DS retail release of Crash City Mayhem on 14th May. While the publisher does have the game listed on its website, however, we're yet to see firm confirmation of a release date. It looks like Europe could be...
News Game & Wario Gets Crazy in Europe on 28th June
Details given on mini-games
Game & Wario is the next first-party retail title scheduled for Wii U, and hits North America at a discounted price of $39.99 on 23rd June. While we don't know about pricing yet, we do now know that the European release is just slightly later than across the Atlantic, hitting stores on 28th June. Nintendo UK's press...
News Mighty Switch Force 2 Development Moves Onto Testing
The sequel gets closer
Mighty Switch Force! is a standout title on the 3DS eShop, with WayForward successfully blending gorgeous pixel-based graphics with clever puzzle platforming. It was successful enough to prompt an enhanced re-release on Wii U, and solidified the Mighty series as one of the developer's best IPs; now the sequel is getting ever...
News The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves Diving Onto the 3DS eShop On 30th May
Reacquaint yourself with those crazy men again
Last month we reported that The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves was given a May release for the 3DS eShop in both North America and Europe. It's been confirmed by the developer, Genius Sonority, that the sequel to The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave will make a splash across both r
Wednesday1st May 2013
News Mario Kart, Wii Sports And Animal Crossing Named In Violent Games Rundown
UK newspaper investigates guns and violence in best-selling games
Critics have been saying that violent video games have a negative impact on children for decades, but recent fatal shootings in the US have resulted in renewed debate on the topic. UK newspaper The Guardian has decided to investigate the issue by highlighting the violent content of...
Review Sengoku (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
An interesting twist on the beat 'em up genre
Given the popularity of arcade titles like Final Fight and Double Dragon, the beat 'em up genre was a big draw in arcades during the late eighties and early nineties. Hoping to cash in on some of this success, SNK created its own unique take on the genre with Sengoku for its Neo Geo system. While the...
Rumour GTA V Has Been Tested On Wii U Dev Kits For Some Time
Take this news lightly
Rumours have been circulating the internet for quite some time now when it comes to Rockstar's hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto V potentially seeing a release on the Wii U; when a new one pops up, we have a bucket full of salt at the ready. Let's take a small trip back to last September, when Swedish retailer CDON listed...
News Nintendo Issues Statement on Wii U Hacking Attempt
The system appears to be secure
Nintendo has responded to claims by hacking group, Wiikey, that it's hacked the Wii U to play pirated, copied games. While Nintendo does acknowledge that it's aware of the reported hacking, the Wii U appears to still be secure. Responding to the circulating reports, Nintendo issued a statement to Eurogamer:...
Rumour Next Sonic Game Will Go Back To His Roots, Is Coming To Wii U And 3DS
Revisiting the classic 16-bit era?
It's pretty obvious that Sega is working on a new Sonic game — the company's mascot is a big draw capable of selling thousands of units. This year's offering is still under wraps, but details are continuing to leak onto the web. According to a source cited on NeoGAF, the next Sonic game will be more akin to the...
News Smartphones And Tablets To Be "Primary Screen For Gamers" By 2017
Juniper Research cites falling 3DS and Wii U sales forecasts as proof
According to analyst group Juniper Research, smartphone and tablet devices will be the "primary screen for gamers" by the year 2017, thanks to the increasing dominance of mobile tech and the rapidly-advancing standard of games available. Juniper predicts that a whopping 64.1...
Review Color Commando (DSiWare)
Mini-masterpiece
Quirky, innovative puzzle-platformers are becoming something of a calling card for Goodbye Galaxy Games, and this latest release fits nicely into that oeuvre. The final panel in a DSiWare triptych that includes the Flipper series and Ace Mathician, Color Commando similarly revolves around manipulating the environment — here via...
News Nintendo Sends Direct Wii U Marketing Message To Wii Owners
A new step in the Wii U campaign
The Wii U isn't just an upgrade, it's an entirely new console. This is the most important bit of information in a message Nintendo has sent out to Wii owners, emphasizing that there is in fact a difference between the two systems. It's time to discover Wii U. Wii U is the all-new home console from Nintendo. It's...
Talking Point Lessons to be Learned, Again, From the Wii U Games Drought
Fresh approaches can avoid repeat scenarios
So here's the deal, Wii U owners. The next notable exclusive for the platform isn't due until late June — when Game & Wario hits North America — and then Pikmin 3 hits the same region on 4th August. The eShop DLC-exclusive New Super Luigi U comes in the summer at an undefined point; if you're in...
News This Mega Man 25th Anniversary 3DS Case Sure Is Snazzy
Available in standard and XL sizes, too
Capcom has received a lot of flak for not giving the Blue Bomber a proper 25th birthday, but the company has made amends to a certain extent by announcing this gorgeous-looking Mega Man 25th Anniversary 3DS snap-on case. Available in both standard and XL sizes, the 2-piece case has an image of Mega Man on...
News Sega and Gearbox Sued By Irate Gamer Over "Misleading" Aliens: Colonial Marines Footage
In court, no one can hear you scream
When Sega canned the Wii U version of Aliens: Colonial Marines it probably hoped that it would draw a line under what has been an especially torrid project for the publisher. The highly-anticipated game launched on other formats to scathing reviews and nightmarish stories from people involved wi
Review Excitebike (Wii U eShop / NES)
Excitement revisited
With all of the Excitebike-related titles to grace a Nintendo console over the past ten years, we’d be hard pressed to find any gamer that isn’t at least familiar with the brand. Numerous re-releases, a couple of spin-offs, a sequel, and a remake have garnered a mostly positive reception from critics and fans alike. So now...
News Nintendo Discounts More 3DS eShop Titles in North America
Kirby, Dillon, Pushmo and more for a limited time
Spring is apparently the time when a young eShop’s fancy turns to savings. The following Nintendo-published titles are currently on sale in the North American 3DS eShop until 9th May: 3D Classics: Kirby’s Adventure — $4.99 Dillon’s Rolling Western — $6.99 Pushmo — $4.99
News Activision Reveals Call Of Duty: Ghosts, Doesn't Mention Wii U Version
Publisher considers Wii U to be "next generation"
In a move which has surprised absolutely nobody, Activision has confirmed that Call of Duty: Ghosts is the next entry in the unreasonably popular men-shooting-men franchise. It's expected to launch on November 5th. A recent listing by a Spanish retailer gave us hope that the Wii U would be getting...
News 3DS Gives Stereoblind Man a Window to the Third Dimension
“I had never known it was possible for reality to look this way”
The technology that allows us to perceive depth on the 3DS top screen is easy to take for granted, or even to dismiss as a gimmick. But for George Kokoris, a senior designer at Rare Ltd., the handheld granted him his first taste of what most of us can view naturally every day...
News Game Audio Professional Contemplates the Importance of Iconic Gaming Sounds
Nintendo is naturally mentioned
When it comes to iconic game sounds, the passage of time hasn't stopped some of Nintendo's earliest efforts — particularly those made famous in games such Super Mario Bros. — being immediately familiar to the general public. In fact we use the coin collecting sound in the two second intro to videos on our YouTube...
News Famicom Hardware Designer Masayuki Uemura Explains Origins of its Name and Red Colouring
Colour choice "due to an order from the company's president"
The original Famicom — which would be branded as the NES in the West — remains an iconic example of Japanese hardware design. That's not to say it was perfect, with one notable feature being that the controllers were hardwired into the system — it's easy to see why that idea was...
News Trio Of Kirby Games Hitting Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Three Super Famicom classics incoming
Japanese Wii U owners are being treated to three Kirby titles in a single week. Some folks have all the luck, right? The games in question are all Super Famicom titles. Kirby’s Super Star Stacker (Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu), Kirby’s Dream Course (Kirby Bowl), and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (Hoshi no Kirby 3) will...
News Grant Kirkhope's Perfect Dark Soundtrack Blasts Onto Bandcamp
The sweet beats
When we think back to iconic Rare shooters that helped to redefine the genre on the Nintendo 64, minds often drift to GoldenEye 007. That has a strong case as a trailblazer, but if you're looking for the best Rare title in that genre from the 64-bit beast, plenty of loyal fans will very enthusiastically and loudly point you towards...
News Jett Rocket II Delayed To Add Free-Roaming 3D Levels
And it will still run at 60fps
Shin’en’s Manfred Linzner has told Nintendo Everything that Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai has been pushed back into Q3 in order to add "true" 3D levels. The 3DS adventure was originally due out early this year. The delay will allow Shin’en to add in free-roaming 3D levels, similar to the ones seen in the
Tuesday30th Apr 2013
News The Monster Hunter Tri Servers Will be Shutdown Today
The end of hunting season
While a number of gamers can be found lurking on the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate online Wii U servers at all hours of the day, we feel it's worth paying a humble tribute to its predecessor, Monster Hunter Tri. Why do this? Because today is the last day when the Wii title's servers will be open for online multiplayer —...
News Shigesato Itoi Says Mother 4 Would Be "Impossible"
Might as well be blunt about it
While EarthBound fans may be jubilant about the game making it to the Wii U Virtual Console, its creator, Shigesato Itoi, has taken to Twitter to announce there will be no future installments in the series. When asked by a fan on the social networking site if he would consider making Mother 4, his response was simple...
Talking Point It's Time for a 3DS Storage Upgrade From Nintendo
Small price, lots of space
When the 3DS was launched, it didn't even have an eShop to enjoy, and even after the online store arrived the pack-in 2GB SD card seemed perfectly adequate. With a mix of Game Boy Virtual Console titles, the odd 3D Classic and the first flashes of download-only titles from third parties, the number of blocks offered up by...
Exclusive Tengami Confirmed For Wii U Release
Nyamyam authorised as Wii U developer
UK developer Nyamyam has exclusively confirmed to us that Tengami is coming to the Wii U eShop. The game is currently in development for the Apple iPad. The studio has issued us with this statement regarding the news: Last year we asked on Twitter whether you would like to see Tengami on the Wii U. The...
News New Wii U Virtual Console Titles Confirmed By Nintendo UK
Zelda: LttP, Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter II all incoming
Nintendo UK has released a trailer which shows forthcoming Wii U Virtual Console releases, hinting that we can expect some more retro goodness very soon. The service launched last week in Europe, and has so far been graced with a pretty meagre selection of titles. The new trailer...
News Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures Is Coming To Nintendo Platforms
Life imitates art
The Angry Video Game Nerd made a name for himself by attacking NES games, but now he's come full circle. Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures is a pixel-heavy 2D platform adventure which stars everyone's favourite grumpy gamer, complete with Power Glove and Zapper. It's been confirmed that it will be coming to modern Nintendo consoles...
Review Ice Climber (Wii U eShop / NES)
Slippery controls are on thin ice
Ice Climber, despite the self-explanatory title, is more complex than a cursory glance would suggest. Popo the parka-toting lad (and identical twin Nana in the multiplayer mode) must scale thirty-two vertically scrolling mountains to rescue a large number of delicious eggplants, using only wits and indestructible...
News Nintendo To Reveal Retro's New Wii U Game "In The Not So Distant Future"
Counting down the days
Are you dying to know what Retro Studios is working on right now? Well you won't have to wait much longer, because Nintendo's Hiro Yamada has told Official Nintendo Magazine that the company will be lifting the lid on the new Wii U title soon. Retro moved to larger offices last year, presumably to enlarge its workforce for...
News Nintendo Has Plans to Deliver "New Offers" In Download Stores
Free-to-play and subscription-based services are on the agenda
Following last week's annual financial results and the President's Presentation, Satoru Iwata faced the music in an investor Q&A to address important issues for Nintendo's prospective return to substantial profits. This was published promptly in Japanese, but we now have the official...
Unity and Nintendo Web Framework to play key roles
The Wii U is a system with many positives and exciting features, but with revealed and soon-to-be-revealed competitors from Sony and Microsoft on the horizon, there are some concerns and challenges as well. Two of these are third-party development support — a topic that goes back to the Wii days...
News Super Mario Bros Crossover Hitting Version 3.0 This Year
Resurrects Hudsonsoft's obscure Sharp X1 title
Remember Super Mario Bros. Crossover? It was a fan-made title which allowed Nintendo lovers to play the classic Super Mario Bros. with characters from other games, including Metroid, Castlevania and Mega Man. Th
News Satoru Iwata: Nintendo Has No Plans To Adopt Cloud Gaming
Will continue to monitor developments in technology
During the recent investor Q&A, Satoru Iwata faced a number of questions about the future of the video game market and where Nintendo will position itself within it. One growing area of the industry is cloud gaming, which allows players to stream a game from a company's server directly to...
News Shin'en Multimedia Announces Spring eShop Sale In North America
Get a 30% discount for a "limited time"
Shin'en Multimedia has announced on Twitter that all of its eShop titles are now on sale at a reduced price in North America. [tweet 329246778643841026] All its eShop titles will be available with a 30% discount for "a limited time". Shin'en Multimedia hasn't given any indication as to when this sale will...
News Satoru Iwata: First Party Wii U Game Delays Are to Ensure That They're "Valuable Titles"
It's becoming harder for games "to move or amaze consumers"
During his recent investor Q & A, Satoru Iwata faced some questions about the delays and lacking Wii U games line-up, with no first-party relief due until the Summer months. The questioning appears to have been polite, but nevertheless touched on a current weak point for Nintendo as the...
News Game & Wario to Retail at $39.99 in the U.S.
Nintendo confirms budget pricing from day one
Late last week eager pre-order shoppers in the U.S. spotted that some retailers were listing Game & Wario at a lower-than-normal price, with pre-order guarantees tempting some to jump on the perceived bargain deals. It's now been confirmed by Nintendo, however, that the official retail price of this...
News Platinum's Inaba: Wonderful 101 Is So Much Fun You'll "Wear Out Your GamePad"
"Actually, the Wii U GamePad is pretty sturdy, so you probably won’t"
Yesterday, we reported that Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya had taken to Twitter to indicate that The Wonderful 101 wasn't a game that would take that long to complete. "If u hate to finish a game the next day u buy it, u better not play TW101," he said. "I focus on how it is fun,...
News 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience Hits DVD
Blu-Ray and digital launch expected this year, too
Those of you with exceptionally good powers of recollection will no doubt remember that we reported on the production of 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience last year. A love letter to the coin-op scene in Japan, the film has been completed thanks to two IndieGoGo campaigns which raised a...
News UK Retro Gaming Event Gathers Steam Ahead Of May Launch
A festival of vintage gaming
If you're based in the UK and have a soft spot for the games of yesteryear then you might want to look into buying a ticket for Revival. The event — which is the successor to the popular Retro Fusion show — takes place on the weekend of May 18th / 19th at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the Midlands, and over a thousand...
Monday29th Apr 2013
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D's Beastly Block Size Revealed
Clear your fridge of any loose bananas
Players looking to download Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D from the eShop in May should get a sizable SD card ready. We can confirm that the platformer, a remake of the Retro-developed Wii hit, weighs in at a hefty 17,693 blocks, making it one of the largest downloads in the eShop — for comparison Monster...
News Mutant Mudds Developer Muses on Wii U Design
Hardware could have taken more cues from game elements
Renegade Kid co-founder and game director Jools Watsham professes a love for Nintendo in his recent blog post, which is why he also says it hurts him to see the Wii U struggling to forge its identity in the public eye. Watsham says he understand why Nintendo would want to keep the Wii brand...
Nintendo Download 2nd May 2013 (Europe)
Virtual Console goodies, discounts, a game developer's dream and more
So we're back to normal with our Monday morning Nintendo Download fix here in Europe. We're treated to a host of classics in the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Consoles this week, along with a small batch of new portable offerings and some discounted pinball on both platforms. Let's get to...
Hands On Seeing The World in Wii U Panorama View
It needs a new lens prescription
Wii U Panorama View has been around for a fair amount of time, appearing at various events and being a common feature at Wii U demonstration units. The concept is simple but, at the same time, is a solid demonstration of the unique possibilities of the Wii U GamePad; the innovative controller functions as a window...
Review Puzzler World 2013 (3DS)
Worldly goodness
There’s a good chance that you already know whether or not you're going to purchase Puzzler World 2013. Whether it's because you’ve played a previous game in the series, you’ve read our review of the DS version – which is, for all intents and purposes, the same game – that released in Europe late last year, or if it’s...
News The Wonderful 101 Is Focused On "Fun" And Not Game Length
Director Hideki Kamiya takes to Twitter
Although games are often compared to movies, it's not an entirely fair match — when was the last time you watched a movie which offers 10 or more hours of entertainment in a single viewing? However, not every 40-hour gaming epic is a classic, which is a fair indication that size isn't everything. That's a...
News Kickstarter For Ecco The Dolphin Successor Sinks Beneath The Waves
Only $55,000 raised of a $665,000 target
We reported recently that the man behind Ecco the Dolphin had launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a spiritual sequel to the game, with a Wii U edition being a distinct possibility. Sadly for Ed Annunziata, the campaign for The Big Blue wasn't a succ
Rumour Call Of Duty: Ghosts Will Be Spooking Wii U This Year
Spanish retailer gives Nintendo fans renewed hope
Activision is close to announcing this year's Call of Duty entry, but we've already seen a couple of retailers leak information related to the title. Call of Duty: Ghosts apparently uses a new game engine and is expected to hit multiple platforms — one of which should be the Wii U, if a listing by...
Weirdness Try to Run as Fast as Sonic, For Real, in Sonic Athletics
Run fatty, run
We have enough self awareness here at Nintendo Life Towers to know that, while some members of our team are athletic and healthy examples to us all, a few of us share an unfortunate body-shape resemblance to Mario. When your main hobby revolves around exercising thumbs more than legs and arms, carrying a few extra pounds is a hazard...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Gathering Happening This Saturday in London
Don't leave your 3DS in the item box
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate has been available for a good month now and Wii U gamers from around the world have been meeting up online to track ferocious beasts down together. Of course, many have picked up the 3DS version which means they can't nip online to fight with others. That hasn't stopped one bunch of...
News They Bleed Pixels Developer Considering a Wii U eShop Release
That and PSN, naturally
They Bleed Pixels is a tough, retro-styled action platformer that was originally slated for Xbox Live Indie Games, but after a fair amount of development time was switched to Steam on PC. That release was fairly well received last year, with the title earning a fair bit of attention around the web. It's the work of indie...
News Watch_Dogs Stalking Onto U.S. Wii U Consoles on 19th November, Europe on 21st November
New trailer and details of four different special editions released
Ubisoft has confirmed that Watch_Dogs will launch in the U.S. on 19th November, Europe on 21st November and in the UK on 22nd November. In terms of UK retail offerings, meanwhile, the game will be available in four (count 'em) different editions: Dedsec (UK exclusive), Vigilante...
News Don't Worry, Nnooo's Next Game Will Be On A Nintendo Console, Too
PS4 and PS Vita title is making the jump
Nnooo has a history of working on Nintendo platforms, but it has also dabbled with rival formats, too. Its next game is scheduled to be released on the PS4 and PS Vita, but thankfully that doesn't mean that the Aussie studio is ignoring Nintendo fans. In reply to a tweet from one of its followers, Nnooo...
News Zen Studios Working on Star Wars Tables for Zen Pinball 2 on Wii U
Still seeking the Force
Zen Pinball 2 has been available on the Wii U for a good while now, but eager fans will have noticed the absence of the most recent high profile tables to grace rival platforms — those from the Star Wars franchise. The offering on Wii U has a good range, but it's seemed like another piece of DLC that's been left out on...
News Expect Batman To Sound Different In Arkham Origins
Kevin Conroy isn't reprising his role in the upcoming game
Voice actor Kevin Conroy has confirmed that he won't be returning to provide his vocal talents to Bruce Wayne's alter ego in the forthcoming Batman: Arkham Origins. Conroy has lent his voice to the Caped Crusader in cartoons and games for many years, with his first video game credit being...
News Rex Rocket Could Come To Wii U And 3DS If Funding Targets Are Met
Retro-styled action platformer currently being Kickstarted
Another week, another Kickstarter campaign for a title which might be coming to Nintendo platforms. Thankfully, Rex Rocket is well worth keeping an eye on. The game is a 2D platformer which needs $6,000 of funding to get made — and it's already bagged over $2,500 of that total with 27...
News LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins Catches Up With the UK Top Ten
A little more sales success for 3DS
With the start of the week comes the UK software chart, and once again there's some positive news for 3DS titles. On the Wii U front little has changed, with no exclusives appearing in the top 40 but, potentially, some contributions to multi-platform success stories such as Injustice: Gods Among Us. The headline...
News No Plans From Nintendo For Renovated Consoles In Europe
The service is exclusive to North America
We reported yesterday that Nintendo was now selling refurbished 3DS and DSi systems direct from its official online store in the US. Some of you were hoping to see the same service from Nintendo of Europe, but it has been confirmed that the option won't be coming across the Atlantic. A Nintendo UK...
Most Read
News The Image Of Tharja In A Swimsuit Nintendo Of America Didn't Want You To...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D's Beastly Block Size Revealed
News Mario Kart, Wii Sports And Animal Crossing Named In Violent Games Rundown
Talking Point It's Time for a 3DS Storage Upgrade From Nintendo
